| How do I secure my Microsoft Windows home | | | | 5. Email Spam. Be sure to set up an email |
| computer? By implementing the following | | | | spam filter on your email account. This is a |
| guideline you will be increasing your | | | | fairly simple process and there will usually |
| computers security integrity making it harder | | | | be a help icon which will guide you through |
| for intruders to break in: | | | | the process. Basically you will be blocking |
| | | | all email coming into your inbox until you |
| 1. Anti-Virus. After installing your | | | | apply a rule that allows only emails that you |
| operating system or purchasing a new computer | | | | define as being safe of from know contacts, |
| the first priority is to immediately install | | | | anything else is sent to the junkbox. You |
| an anti-virus package to protect you when you | | | | will have to be careful as if you are |
| first connect to the internet. You should | | | | awaiting an email from a new contact, the |
| choose a package that will automatically | | | | email will be sent to your junkbox. You will |
| update itself on a daily basis or make sure | | | | have to find that email and add it to your |
| you configure your chosen package to update | | | | safe contacts list and in the future it will |
| its virus definitions at a specific time when | | | | arrive in your inbox. DO NOT OPEN ANY SPAMMED |
| it is connected to the internet. | | | | EMAILS OR ATTACHMENTS AS THIS WILL INDICATE |
| | | | THAT YOUR EMAIL ADDRES IS VALID AND / OR IT |
| 2. Patch The Operating System. Once you have | | | | CAN CONTAIN A VIRUS. |
| your anti-virus installed you can connect to | | | | |
| the internet and click on your Update Windows | | | | 6. Wireless Security. If you have a wireless |
| icon which will take you through the process | | | | home network then make sure you have wireless |
| of downloading and installing the latest | | | | encryption enabled preventing any |
| system patches. Also, make sure that the | | | | unauthorised connections to your network or |
| downloading and installing of important | | | | internet. |
| updates is set to automatic. | | | | |
| | | | 7. Downloading Software or Music. If you |
| 3. Firewall Defence. Microsoft Windows has a | | | | download software applications using a Peer |
| built in basic Firewall but it is always | | | | to Peer networking program like Limewire or |
| advisable to install a third party Firewall | | | | Kazaa then be careful as some of the files |
| as this will prevent any unrecognised | | | | can contain viruses or spyware. |
| outbound connections or buy a router which | | | | |
| has a built in Firewall for the ultimate | | | | 8. Backup, Backup, Backup! Purchase an |
| first line of defence protection. | | | | external hard drive as this can be used to |
| | | | backup all your music, video and picture |
| 4. Spyware Protection. Make sure that you | | | | files, just in case your PC becomes infected |
| have a memory resident Spyware application | | | | with a virus and crashes the operating system |
| which monitors any changes that are being | | | | and you need to re-install Windows. You can |
| made to the registry or Internet Explorer. | | | | the view all of you files without loosing |
| These tend not to be included in the free | | | | them. |
| Spyware programs available and some of the | | | | |
| freeware programs actually contain Spyware. | | | | 9. Encryption. If you keep sensitive data on |
| By purchasing a brand named Spyware package | | | | your PC then applying encryption to these |
| you will get a more advanced software package | | | | files makes it hard for someone to view the |
| which include the memory resident program and | | | | contents. |
| does not contain any Spyware. Configure the | | | | |
| Spyware program to automatically download any | | | | 10. Passwords. Try to use a password which is |
| new updates and allow it to scan your hard | | | | not a commonly used name but one that is |
| drive at least once a week to pick up any | | | | unique, either by adding uppercase characters |
| malicious code for you to remove. | | | | and numbers to the word, which strengthens |
| | | | the passwords encryption. |